2019 Transat Jacques Vabre: Preview - Braving the Atlantic double-handed
by Media TJV 2019 9 Dec 2018 08:05 PST
27 October 2019
2019 Transat Jacques Vabre conference © Jean-Marie Liot / Alea / TJV2019
On Sunday, October 27 2019, three classes of boats: the Class40, Muli50 and Imoca60, will leave Le Havre for Salvador de Bahia, Brazil's land of coffee, on a tough route with the duos on board braving the Atlantic from north to south, from France to Brazil.
A route with many hazards
The "Coffee Route" from Le Havre to Salvador de Bahia is a familiar one for the sailors, as it will be the 6th time that the Transat Jacques Vabre will finish there. This 4350-mile Atlantic crossing is fascinating for the diversity of weather conditions to be found: the autumnal depressions in the Bay of Biscay, the Canary Islands anticyclone, the trade winds, the Doldrums and the finish along the Brazilian coast into the Bay of All Saints; all these systems force the sailing duos to be strategic and tactical in order to navigate the best possible route to Salvador.
"The Transat Jacques Vabre is a race, a crossing of the Atlantic double-handed. It tests the ability, the tenacity and the balance of these duos, and makes them push their limits in order to go even faster and manage the boat 24 hours a day without ever letting up," Gildas Gautier, the race organiser, said. "This is what the Transat Jacques Vabre offers the skippers and the public: a friendly, festive but above all, high-level sports event with total commitment."
A festive village in Brazilian colours
On Friday October 18, the party will begin around the Bassin Paul Vatine in Le Havre. Ten days of festivities filled with colourful and exciting activities will be discovered or rediscovered by these sailing duos as they prepare for an adventure and an intense race. This will be an opportunity for the public to enjoy new experiences and to be not only spectators but also get involved thanks to the many activities in the village. In addition to the recreational activities on offer, the village will have, as in previous years, a centre dedicated to sustainable, ecological and social development.
The finish in the Bay of All Saints
Salvador, in the state of Bahia, is a special city in Brazil. Joyful, festive, colourful, it is rich in sports, culture and areas of interest for tourists, including the Pelourinho, one of the most famous and most visited areas of the old town. Salvador is, like Le Havre, a World Heritage Site. This land of coffee welcomes the Transat Jacques Vabre for the sixth time. The finish in the Bay of All Saints is a highlight for the duos, who will make a well-deserved arrival in a beautiful harbour – after having to beat all the weather hurdles before crossing the line.
"I am proud to renew the commitment of the JDE Group and the JV brand to the world of sailing as well as to the men and women who embody so many of the values ??that are dear to us: commitment, surpassing oneself, solidarity, passion and even being entrepreneurial!" Juan Amat, President of JDE France, said. "I am looking forward to this new edition and I look forward to seeing you again in November in Le Havre."
For Luc Lemonnier, the mayor of Le Havre "to host the Transat Jacques Vabre is always an event. The longest double-handed ocean race is an "havraise" adventure: since its creation the race has started from the Porte Océane, and thus has established Le Havre as one of the great cities of sailing and the leading French port for the coffee trade. It's the best way to celebrate our sailors and the city for a week, by hosting one of the major sailing events!"
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